Travis Zajac was healthy last season, but the Devils center’s statistics were a bit anemic despite the fact that it was a lockout-shortened schedule.

Zajac, who overcame a torn Achilles tendon the previous season, believes he is ready to bounce back along with the team in general.

“It wasn’t the season statistically I would’ve wanted,” Zajac said today. “I think I improved in some areas and some areas I can still get better at. I had another full summer to work on some things. I think that’s in the past and I’m excited about this year to get going.”

“I don’t know. I think it was just as a team we played well but we couldn’t score goals,” he said. “That was, for the most part, throughout the lineup. But it’s hardto say because I felt like we played good at times. I felt like I played well for most of the season. That happens. You just control what you can control and that’s going oit and playing hard.

“I think my faceoffs got better. But there is still lots to work on. Hopefully I can get off to a good start this year.”

He prepared differently this summer.

“I just wanted to make sure I was in the best shape possible coming into camp,” Zajac said. “With the lockout last year it was a waiting game.You didn’t know when to train or when to skate. It was a short camp. I prepared myself this year to make sure I was ready to go when camp started.”

It wasn’t the eight-year, $46 million contract he signed last January that weighed on Zajac.

“I don’t think that’s in my head at all, to be honest,” he said. “I think I know what I have to do to be successful. I know what the coaches expect of me. I just have to worry about that and make sure I go out there and do what I do best. That’s play at both ends of the ice and make sure I’m liable and contribute offensively.”

Zajac believes the Devils can bounce back strong.

“I think this is the biggest turnover we’ve had here in a while. I think it’s good,” he said. “I’m sure there will be some adjustment. I think the players we got are really good players who can score and do a lot of good things on the ice. I’m really looking forward to that opening game. Hopefully we can get some chemistry going here.”

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Coach Pete DeBoer will tinker with his line combinations throughout training camp, so the Patrik Elias-Zajac-Jaromir Jagr unit that took a few shifts today isn’t definite.

Right now, DeBoer isn’t worried about line chemistry.

“We’re going to play around with a lot of things. We have a three-team camp here so chemistry isn’t at the top of things we’re trying to accomplish right now,” DeBoer said. “It’s more planning some of the system and identity seeds, getting these guys in a game and see how they look. I think as we go through exhibitions we’ll work more on line chemistry.”

“Dave has experience having run the power play in Minnesota when he was there,” DeBoer explained. “He got to work hand in hand with Adam Oates and Matt Shaw, a couple of different power play philosophies.”

Mike Foligno run penalty kill.

“Mike’s had a history and experience of running penalty kill, including when he was in Anaheim. I think it’s a good fit,” DeBoer noted.

DeBoer hasn’t decided which player will get the ‘A’ that Ilya Kovalchuk wore.

“I have not decided that yet. There are a lot of candidates,” he said.

The coach, beginning his third season with the Devils, was pleased with the way Martin Brodeur, Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias reported to camp.

“You’ve got, in my mind, three Hall of Fame players there in Brodeur, Elias and Jagr, who are all over 40 or close to 40. All three came in fantastic shape and are excited to be here. That has to be contagious.”